The Kingdom of Durundal

A Hare in the Wilderness

Kingdom of Durundal Book 1

by S. E. Turner

Genre: Epic Fantasy

They persecuted her as a child. Now they have to face her as a woman.

In the house of Gnaeus, a daughter is born, though when a mysterious
mark appears on her face – the father instantly rejects her. Scorned
and isolated by those at court, she grows up in the shadows, unaware
of the tragic events that caused the defect in the first place.

Unwavered by kinship and severing all ties, Gnaeus strips away his daughter’s
identity, removes her from court and banishes her to the wilderness forever.

Cast out with her mother, they find sanctuary with the clans. Here she
forges a new life, learning new skills, gathering knowledge and
finding love. No one can harm her again this far north. No one knows
who she is.

Until the day an old enemy appears on the horizon.

Now a grown woman, and a formidable warrior, she knows she must
defeat
this enemy and seek the truth.

That she is Ajeya, Crown Princess of Ataxata, heir to the subject kingdoms
of Ataxata and all the colonies of the southern most territories.

Because if she fails – she will remain as the forgotten heir forever …

Lyall has lived and breathed nightmares since he was fourteen years old. He
believed he knew every horror, and was beyond surprise. He was wrong.

When General Domitrius Corbulo launches a brutal attack on Castle Dru in
Durundal, he slaughters everyone inside, including the king and queen.

Everyone that is … except one.

The young Prince Lyall escapes the carnage through an ancient, disused
tunnel – knowing that he can never go back to his ancestral home, and
fearful of what lies ahead. In the wake of this tragedy, he has to
adapt to a new life and face challenges beyond his wildest dreams …
and the wrath of the General is always a heartbeat away.

By the time he reaches adulthood with unrivalled knowledge and a unique
set of skills, he faces the ultimate decision –embrace
the future as the man he has become, or return to his birthright to
avenge a past he can’t forget …

It’s not until you’re broken – that you discover what’s worth fighting for.

Cornelius has returned from exile to reclaim his
birthright and take back control of the empire. Offering a peace
treaty with the clans, he approaches Namir, an adversary from old,
with whom he seeks to make amends.

However, the clan is
suspicious of Cornelius. Concerned that his intentions are not
entirely honourable. Worried that his agenda is the same as the
emperor before him; steeped with motives in a lust for power to bring
down the Kingdom of Durundal forever.

Despite the protests
from his wife and the rest of the clan, Namir accepts the proposal
and ventures to Ataxata to sign the agreement. Though when he doesn’t
return – suspicions are heightened and they fear the worst. Now the
clans will risk everything in a race against time to find the
chieftain and save the future of his kingdom.

In the Kingdom of Durundal, hearts will be broken, loved ones lost and
thrones burned.

Saskia remembers when the soil of Durundal
hummed with peace, and the future of the kingdom brimmed with
prosperity.

But everything changed the night her home was attacked.

On the orders of the ruthless King Segan Hezekiah,
she finds herself imprisoned in a tower awaiting a fate worse than
death, her father has been taken to the dark labyrinths of the mine
to dig for gold, and her people are forced to work in the adjoining
grounds. The only person with the power to help is locked up in the
mines alongside her father, and anyone who disobeys the king, or
tries to escape, is targeted and killed.

S E Turner is a life-long enthusiast of epic fantasy that borders on
the believable. With an abundance of historical research weaved
through the pages, this promises to be an engaging and immersive
experience.

‘The Kingdom of Durundal series is far more than the single genre of
fantasy. Rather, it blends into a prestigious crossroads where
fantasy meets reality, and the surreal meets the sublime. I wanted to
write a series that everyone could read, and I’m happy to provide an
exciting, epic story that a wide variety of ages will enjoy.’